Newsom says he won't run for president if Harris does

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would not run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 if Kamala Harris does so, appearing to offer deference to the former vice president ahead of a race that could draw a historically crowded field of candidates. "I wouldn't run if she ran," Newsom told CNN's Jake Tapper in an interview posted Monday. "Why would I? I wouldn't do that to her. ... I wouldn't do it to you, I wouldn't waste everyone's time." Newsom appeared to acknowledge a desire to avoid the possibly messy fight for California backers that could ensue if both were to run, saying there would be "pure crossover" between Harris' supporters and his. The governor's effective yield to Harris diminishes the possibility of a showdown between two of California's most powerful political figures in an election whose stakes are viewed by the Democratic Party as existential.